Washington has not shown signs it would update its assistance request to Bulgaria in preparation for possible war on Iraq, Sofia's Ambassador to the United States Elena Poptodorova told the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. According to her, the US is unlikely to demand more from Bulgaria than what was already negotiated.

The scale of Bulgaria's assistance will not feature in the talks of the country's Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and President Bush when they meet on Tuesday, Poptodorova said.

However, the ambassador pointed out that the US-drafted resolution on Iraq and the looming dabates in the UN Security Council would be discussed at the meeting. Poptodorova who met with both NATO Secretary General George Roberson and US Ambassador to NATO Nicolas Burns on Thursday said they hoped for Bulgaria's support to the resolution.

Sofia's envoy to Washington said that she diposed of information that indicated a "softer" draft resolution that some observers have expected.

According to her, Bulgaria's government should prepare its responce to the US inquiry how it is going to contribute to Iraq's recovery after a possible war. Poptodorova said that this issue could be tabled by George W Bush during his meeting with Saxe-Coburg.

Bulgaria agreed to allow US troops and use of its Burgas airport in case of war against Iraq. Bulgaria is on the UN Security Council, although without the power of veto. It would like to see a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but could probably be persuaded to back a war without a second UN resolution.

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